Meet Our Trustees This Trustees’ Week
Trustees’ Week 2024 runs from 4-8 November. It is dedicated to celebrating the work of charity trustees and highlighting the importance of their role in the non-profit sector. It highlights the contributions of trustees who volunteer their time and expertise to help charities achieve their missions.
This week we spoke to a couple of our trustees to find out more about them and how they got involved with being on our board!
Meet Jade and Natallie!
Jade is a Masters student at the University of York where they are studying Criminology and Social Research. They completed their undergraduate degree in Social and Public Policy at the University of York in August this year. As former young person within SASH, Jade hopes to represent the voice of those who may use the services and help support them in coming forward for help. Having worked in the charity sector for 16 years, Natallie brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the SASH board for which we’re really grateful!
So what made you want to join the SASH board?
Natallie – “When I first heard about SASH and that there was an opportunity to become a trustee, I knew I wanted to go for it and be part of an organisation working to prevent youth homelessness in North and East Yorkshire. I have worked in the charity sector for over 15 years and i believe I have a good skill set to offer SASH.”
Jade – “With my lived experience of being homeless and experience using SASH, once I got to uni I began volunteering with them as I wanted to give back. When SASH began looking for a new trustee, I applied as I wanted to give back. Paired with my academic knowledge in social policy, as well as my lived experiences, I felt I could bring a unique perspective that would hopefully benefit those who are in positions like I had been.”
What has been your standout moment since joining the board?
Natallie – “One of the biggest highlights was volunteering my time to spread the word and fundraise for SASH at the Bombsquad event in July. I took my daughter with me and she was fascinated by all the art and also helped spread the word about the charity. It was a great event! We met lots of people and had an opportunity to talk about SASH to raise its profile!”
Jade – “My standout moment has been one of my most recent volunteering experiences. I spoke at a talk for a University of York volunteering society where I was representing SASH. The society focuses on homelessness. This event allowed me to share my experiences within SASH to a community I am within at the university and opened up several avenues of conversation from policy, to fundraising, to the impacts of volunteering.”
Have your learnt anything new, specific to youth homelessness, since joining SASH?
Natallie – “It’s shocking to know there is still so much homelessness in the UK and so much more we can do to support and help young people. I hope as my role as trustee I can help contribute in any way as SASH is an amazing organisation.”
Jade – “No but I would say this is unique to me, as I was under SASH myself so I have the lived experience. This has allowed me not only to bring lived experience to the board conversations but also to bring relevance to SASH as they were who supported me.”
Natallie (left), Jade (right)
